The Trumps visit Pearl Harbour before heading to Japan

HONOLULU: United States President Donald Trump headed to Japan on the first stop of his fivenation tour of Asia yesterday, looking to present a united front with the Japanese against North Korea as tensions run high over Pyongyang’s nuclear and missile tests.

Trump, who is on a 12-day trip, is to speak to US and Japanese forces at Yokota air base after arriving in Japan today and looked to stress the importance of the alliance to regional security.

Ballistic missile tests by North Korea and its sixth and largest nuclear test, in defiance of United Nations Security Council resolutions, have exacerbated the most critical international challenge of Trump’s presidency.

Aerial drills conducted over South Korea by two US strategic bombers have raised tensions in recent days.

In a display of golf diplomacy, Trump is to play a round of golf with Prime Minister Shinzo Abe. The two leaders played together in Florida earlier this year.

Trump will have a state call with the Imperial Family at Akasaka Palace during his visit. Abe and Trump will meet families of Japanese citizens abducted by North Korea.

Trump’s trip got off to a colourful start in Hawaii. He was taken by boat out to the USS Arizona Memorial, where lies the World War 2 ship that was sunk by the Japanese during the Pearl Harbour attack in 1941.

The Trumps tossed white flower petals into the waters at the memorial in honour of those who died at Pearl Harbour.

Trump’s trip is to be dominated by trade and how to muster more international pressure on North Korea to give up nuclear weapons.

Trump will seek a united front with leaders of Japan and South Korea against North Korea before visiting Beijing to make the case to Chinese President Xi Jinping that he should do more to rein in Pyongyang.

Trade will factor heavily during Trump’s trip as he tries to persuade Asian allies to agree to trade policies more favourable to the US. Reuters